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BETHLEHEM, September 30, 2012 (WAFA) – A number of Jewish settlers Sunday set up mobile homes on private-owned Palestinian land in al-Khader, a village south of Bethlehem as a step toward establishing another illegal settlement outpost, according to a local activist.

Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements Ahmad Salah told WAFA that a group of settlers from the Israeli Daniel settlement, which is built illegally in al-Khader and is part of the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, set up a number of mobile homes on private-owned land belonging to Palestinian Khader Abu Ghalyoon.

He added settlers, two months ago, have also seized five dunums of Abu Ghalyoon land, where they also set up mobile homes as well as carried out unauthorized infrastructure work in the area as a prelude to establish a new settlement outpost in the area.

He said the village’s residents are constantly targeted by settlers, who are protected by soldiers, through taking over large areas of land, closing off agricultural roads, as well as releasing dogs on farmers; aiming to scare farmers off and prevent them from returning to their land.

Abu Ghalyoon filed a complaint to the settlement to stop their decision regarding taking over five dunums of his land but got no response.

T.R./F.R.